This thesis studies the connection between suffering and sentience in Karel Capek’s R.U.R. (1921) and the first season of Westworld (HBO, 2016). Both R.U.R. and Westworld present suffering as a...Show moreThis thesis studies the connection between suffering and sentience in Karel Capek’s R.U.R. (1921) and the first season of Westworld (HBO, 2016). Both R.U.R. and Westworld present suffering as a catalyst for the emergence of a human form of consciousness in artificial people. Initially, however, organic human characters in both texts are convinced that artificial people feel no pain and are unable to suffer. The organic human characters use this supposed inability to justify the inhumane treatment of the artificial characters. This thesis demonstrates how R.U.R. and Westworld reflect on the ways that theories about differences in sensitivity to pain were and continue to be used to justify the mistreatment of Others in real life. Additionally, the thesis shows how R.U.R. and Westworld offer illustrations of the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, in which one’s suffering in response to the Other’s suffering is the foundation of becoming a fully human subject. The thesis shows how R.U.R. and Westworld interweave these opposite ways of responding to the suffering Other, and thereby contribute to a better understanding of the role of suffering in the ongoing negation of what it means to be human.Show less
Indigenous Peoples have been historically Othered in society but also through the use of the media. This phenomenon is based on historic asymmetries of power that are still present in the modern...Show moreIndigenous Peoples have been historically Othered in society but also through the use of the media. This phenomenon is based on historic asymmetries of power that are still present in the modern day. One contemporary example of this is that of the participation of Indigenous Peoples in Colombia, in particular the Minga, during the protests in 2021 known as the Paro Nacional. Though this period had a wide participation of vast groups of society protesting (students, feminist groups, workers unions, and other marginalised groups), the way the Minga was covered in the media was distinct in highlighting the danger they posed compared to these other groups. Thus, this research focuses on answering why were the Indigenous grouping (the Minga) portrayed as dangerous when they protested in the Paro Nacional of 2021? The central argument proposed is that this is due to the media’s power alongside the government in wanting to maintain the colonial subjectivities of Indigenous people that were posing a threat to social order during these unusually disruptive protests. To do so the research uses a multidisciplinary methodology of historical primary source analysis and frame analysis, from the cultural studies discipline, to shed light on the Othering narratives present in the chosen sources in the Colombian media during the Paro Nacional of 2021. This research not only proves important for the local Colombian context but is also relevant globally as the Othering of minorities through the media can limit the effectiveness of social justice anywhere.Show less
Using a framework of Fourth Cinema, first constructed by Māori filmmaker Barry Barclay, this thesis explores the (historical) identity politics of the Sámi and employs an eco-critical approach to...Show moreUsing a framework of Fourth Cinema, first constructed by Māori filmmaker Barry Barclay, this thesis explores the (historical) identity politics of the Sámi and employs an eco-critical approach to trace a bridge to climate politics. Fourth Cinema is a movement which empowers Indigenous people to take back control of their narrative and invites its audiences to envision an alternative to the Ecological Exotic Other constructed by Western colonial accounts. Whereas the roots of Fourth Cinema were first theorized in the 90s to strengthen Indigenous identity politics, it is now unquestionably intertwined with climate politics in the case of the Sámi. The cultural identity of the Sámi is so closely tied to their land that the increased threat of global warming is a direct assault on their social distinctiveness. Time and again the Sámi are at the forefront of climate change in the North. Consequently, Fourth Cinema meets ecocinema in the effort by Indigenous peoples to transmit their ways of knowing to a larger audience. Fourth Cinema is a space where the Sámi have the authority to voice their outlooks on environmental issues from the perspective of their values and traditional ways of knowing. At the core of this thesis is a study into the dialogue between ecocriticism and Fourth Cinema in Sámi film. The thesis’s focal hypothesis is that an eco-critical study of Sámi Fourth Cinema offers alternative outlooks to contemporary Nordic climate discussions and crises while simultaneously empowering cultural sovereignty to Sámi communities oppressed by colonial mechanisms of Othering.Show less
In recent years, right-wing extremists have shown that the power of their writings is just as impactful as the violent attacks they commit. Extremism scholar J.M. Berger noted in 2019: “We have...Show moreIn recent years, right-wing extremists have shown that the power of their writings is just as impactful as the violent attacks they commit. Extremism scholar J.M. Berger noted in 2019: “We have only begun to suffer the cost of these writings, crafted with an intent no less lethal than their authors’ violent crimes” (Berger, 2019, p.8). Right-wing extremist manifestos have a complex meaning, attraction, and impact. They aim to inspire more violence by expressing their grievances, experiences, and extremist ideology. More research on extreme-right manifestos will explain how they impact their audience and can spread ideology (Berger, 2019). Specifically, this study zooms in on how the manifestos of Brenton Tarrant and John Earnest use ‘othering’ to justify self-sacrifice. This question is built around the concept of us-versus- them to gain more knowledge of how right-wing extremists inspire one another. This is important since it allows us to determine and understand extremist groups' online community- building. Especially on a global level, this is of great importance because this community- building that happens online has often been proven to connect many attackers to each other (Baumgarten, 2017, p. 1). Suppose we try and understand the similarities between the manifestos of different right-wing extremists. In that case, we can potentially gain more insight into how this online community inspires each other and can successfully transfer right-wing extremist ideology to its audience. In the end, this paper can then function as a groundwork for further research and policy papers focussing on the online prevention of such extremist ideology. Findings point toward a substantial overlap of discourse in both manifestos; mainly apparent is that both extremists extensively use similar us-vs-them rhetoric to emphasise alienation as well as polarisation between the in-group and out-group (Berger, 2019, Curle, n.d.).Show less
This thesis focuses on the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido Japan, and how they were represented in visual sources from the early modern period. The analysis features twelve prints and...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido Japan, and how they were represented in visual sources from the early modern period. The analysis features twelve prints and scrolls that show the Ainu as inferior or 'other' to their Japanese neighbors. Furthermore, the sources involve the concepts of racial stereotyping and power conflicts.Show less
This research paper explored the passport through a postcolonial lens. An existing passport hierarchy motivated the questioning of the performative role that the passport plays in subordinating and...Show moreThis research paper explored the passport through a postcolonial lens. An existing passport hierarchy motivated the questioning of the performative role that the passport plays in subordinating and marginalizing the Global South. It was found that through the process of “Othering,” the passport has played a role in consolidating colonial legacy. To investigate this, a Critical discourse analysis was conducted on the Egyptian film Assal Eswed (2010) to gain better understanding on the discourse around passports and how the Global South is made to feel inferior through it. The film was mapped into themes which display power relations rooted in colonial history. The findings are useful in understanding several key debates in International Relations such as, immigration, refugee crisis, power relations, and colonial legacy.Show less
The thesis studies the perpection of the European Union within the German Bundestag, its delegation to the Council of Europe and German newspapers. Applying frame analysis, the thesis finds, that...Show moreThe thesis studies the perpection of the European Union within the German Bundestag, its delegation to the Council of Europe and German newspapers. Applying frame analysis, the thesis finds, that the perception and use of European institutions from the German national positition has visibly changed over since 1989. Key changes took place around political watershed on national and international level, leading to a new relevance of the national perspective and realpolitk-alike forms of othering in the discursive structures.Show less
The political history and lived experience of Russians in the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia plausibly constitutes an historic example of civic Othering. The hybrid, multi-layered identities...Show moreThe political history and lived experience of Russians in the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia plausibly constitutes an historic example of civic Othering. The hybrid, multi-layered identities and subjective perceptions of nationality amongst these communities have been covered by academic research. At the same time, Latvia and Estonia have engaged in the political dialogue of ‘Europeanization’ as Member States of the European Union, as part of a top-down process to understand and, at times, promote a common ‘European identity’, which has also been frequent analyzed and discussed in academic literature. While both these aspects of research have been extensive, there has been less contemporary investigation at their crossroads: European identity amongst Russians in Estonia and Latvia. This paper performs a ‘research synthesis’ type of meta-analysis on academic and policy papers to shed light on this potential gap between academic literature and policy research. Its conclusions have implications for researchers and practitioners of both kinds, as well as grounds to consider the gap as a form of ‘methodological Othering’ itself.Show less
This thesis delves into the concept of the queer 'Other' in Gothic literature, using Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' as...Show moreThis thesis delves into the concept of the queer 'Other' in Gothic literature, using Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' as examples to analyse the discourse surrounding the figure of the queer Other in nineteenth-century society. Key concepts are the (sexually) queer monster and queer(ing) space and social constructs.Show less
Even though the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola, Dominicans generally do not feel very connected with their neighbouring country. For a large part, Dominican identity...Show moreEven though the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola, Dominicans generally do not feel very connected with their neighbouring country. For a large part, Dominican identity even relies on “not being Haitian.” This is part of the national ideology of antihaitianismo or anti-Haitianism: the rejection of Haiti and "everything Haitian." This rejection is based on assumed differences between the Dominican Republic and Haiti in terms of race, religion, and culture. This thesis examines whether such an anti-Haitian ideology is taught to the next generation as well by analysing three contemporary Dominican children's books: Yina Guerrero’s ¿Palo Malo, Quién? [Bad Hair, Who?], José Rafael Lantigua’s Duarte Para Jóvenes [Duarte for the Youth], and César Sánchez Beras’ Al Este de Haiti [East of Haiti]. Working on theories on the dichotomy between "the Self" and "the Other," this thesis examines how the children's books construct a Dominican identity in relation to Haitian identity. Do the books reinforce antihaitianismo or can they form a basis for a new generation with less generalisation?Show less
Bachelor thesis | Nederlandse taal en cultuur (BA)
closed access
In deze scriptie is onderzoek gedaan naar de representatie van inheemse personages in een roman over Nederlands-Indië. De onderzoeksvraag die centraal staat, is: Welk effect heeft de representatie...Show moreIn deze scriptie is onderzoek gedaan naar de representatie van inheemse personages in een roman over Nederlands-Indië. De onderzoeksvraag die centraal staat, is: Welk effect heeft de representatie van inheemse personages in de roman Nog pas gisteren van Maria Dermoût op het beeld dat de lezer krijgt van inheemse mensen? De theorie in deze scriptie, die te vinden is in het eerste hoofdstuk van de scriptie, is gevormd met behulp van onderzoek van Petra Boudewijn en de theorieën van onder andere Michel Foucault, Edward Said en Maaike Meijer. De resultaten van de analyse van de roman zijn onderverdeeld in vier hoofdstukken. Hoofdstuk 2 gaat over de representatie van zwarte mensen als dieren. In het derde hoofdstuk is meer te vinden over de narratieve rollen in de roman. Het vierde hoofdstuk bevat informatie over de verhoudingen tussen personages en in het vijfde hoofdstuk is er geschreven over de oosterse mystiek die in de roman te vinden is. Ten slotte wordt in de conclusie laten zien welk effect deze manier van representatie heeft op het beeld dat de lezer krijgt van inheemse mensen. Hierin is te lezen dat de representatie van inheemse personages enerzijds een negatief effect kan hebben, omdat het de inheemsen neerzet als dierlijk en bijgelovig. Anderzijds kan de representatie van de inheemse personages ook een positief effect hebben, omdat ze niet beschreven worden als collectieve ‘ander’, maar ook individuele eigenschappen toegedicht krijgen. Een aspect dat hieraan bijdraagt is de aanwezigheid van hybride personages en van dieren die een tussenpositie bekleden. Deze personages vormen als het ware een brug tussen de westerse en inheemse personages. Dit kan bijdragen aan een grotere waardering van de inheemse personages door de westerse lezers.Show less
The research question in this paper is twofold: How has othering Turkey contributed to the construction of European Collective Identity? And: What does Europe’s ambiguous attitude towards Turkey...Show moreThe research question in this paper is twofold: How has othering Turkey contributed to the construction of European Collective Identity? And: What does Europe’s ambiguous attitude towards Turkey tell us about the current status of the EU’s Self-perception? In order to demonstrate Turkey’s constitutive role in the formation of EU’s identity, the present inquiry will rely on a socio-historical analysis of the ways in which the Turkish Other has been represented in the EU political discourse.Show less
